Locals refer to the
Kitulo Plateau as "Bustani ya Mungu" ("The Garden of God"),
whilebotanistshave referred to it as the
"Serengeti of Flowers".

Protection of the
Kitulo Plateau's unique flora was first proposed by theWildlife Conservation Society(WCS), in response to the growing
international trade inorchidtubers and increased hunting and
logging activities in the surrounding forests. In 2002, PresidentBenjamin
Mkapaannounced the
establishment of the park. The park was formally gazette in 2005, becoming
Tanzania's fourteenth national park. TANAPA has stated that the park could be
expanded in the future to include the neighboringMount Rungweforest.

In 2005, field
scientists from the WCS discovered a new species of primate on and around Mount
Rungwe and in the Livingstone Forest area of the park.Initially known as the Highland
Mangabey, later changed to its Tanzanian name ofKipunji, it is
one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.